Contingencies |
9 Months Ended |
|---|---|
Sep. 30, 2011 | |
| Contingencies [Abstract] | |
| Contingencies |
12. Contingencies The United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana, along with the Criminal Investigation Division of the Environmental Protection Agency, is conducting a federal grand jury investigation of environmental compliance matters relating to surface discharges and reporting on four of our offshore platforms in the Gulf of Mexico. We are fully cooperating with the investigation. The United States Attorney's Office has recently informed us that they are continuing with their investigation with the intent to seek a criminal disposition. We are not able at this time to estimate our potential exposure, if any, related to this matter. We are a party to various pending or threatened claims and complaints seeking damages or other remedies concerning our commercial operations and other matters in the ordinary course of our business. In addition, claims or contingencies may arise related to matters occurring prior to our acquisition of properties or related to matters occurring subsequent to our sale of properties. In certain cases, we have indemnified the sellers of properties we have acquired, and in other cases, we have indemnified the buyers of properties we have sold. We are also subject to federal and state administrative proceedings conducted in the ordinary course of business. Although we can give no assurance about the outcome of pending legal and federal or state administrative proceedings and the effect such an outcome may have on us, management believes that any ultimate liability resulting from the outcome of such proceedings, to the extent not otherwise provided for or covered by insurance, will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or liquidity. |